Ferroglobe Plc (NASDAQ:GSM)

We are one of the world’s largest and most efficient producers of silicon metal and silicon-based alloys, with approximately 156,400 MT of silicon metal capacity and 72,800 MT of silicon-based alloys capacity at our principal operating facilities located in the U.S., Argentina and Brazil, and are also a leading developer of upgraded metallurgical silicon (UMG) for photovoltaic (solar) cells. The capital expenditure required to reopen our Niagara Falls, New York facility was substantially completed in fiscal 2009 and will bring our silicon metal capacity to 186,400 MT. According to CRU International Limited (CRU), a leading independent research firm on the metals industry, we currently have approximately 77% of total U.S. capacity, approximately 61% of total North American capacity, and approximately 18% of total “Western World” capacity for silicon metal. CRU defines “Western World” as all countries supplying or consuming silicon metal with the exception of China and the former republics of the Soviet Union, including Russia. In addition to our principal silicon metal products, we produce high-grade silicon-based alloys including magnesium-ferrosilicon-based alloys used to make ductile iron by increasing iron’s strength and resilience, ferrosilicon-based alloys used to increase the strength and castability of grey and ductile iron, and calcium silicon used in steel manufacturing, particularly in modern continuous casting processes. Our silicon metal and silicon-based alloys are important inputs to manufacture a wide range of industrial products, including aluminum, silicone compounds used in the chemical industry, ductile iron, automotive parts, photovoltaic (solar) cells, semiconductors and steel. Finally, we capture, recycle and sell the majority of the by-products generated in our production processes which not only reduces manufacturing costs, but also significantly reduces the environmental impact of our operations.